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Engineered bone tissue synthesized from mesenchymal stem cell progenitors has numerous applications throughout the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. However, these multipotent cells offer little tissue-building assistance without differentiation direction from environmental cues such as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Unfortunately, BMP dosing and environmental cues can be difficult to control bothin vitroand afterin vivodelivery. Several BMP antagonists are expressed by cells in response to BMP dosing that bind extracellular BMPs and reduce their effective concentration. Here, we use CRISPR-guided gene-modulation technology to downregulate the expression of three BMP antagonists, noggin, gremlin-1, and gremlin-2, in adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). We show that regulating noggin using this method results in ASC osteogenesis without the need for exogenous growth factors. To demonstrate the versatility and the precision capabilities of these engineered cells, we employ them with CRISPRa multiplex-engineered chondrogenic cells as a proof-of-concept tissue engineering application by creating a tissue gradient similar to the fibrocartilage-to-mineralized-fibrocartilage gradient in the tendon/ligament enthesis or intervertebral disc attachment. In doing so, we show that multiple CRISPR multiplex engineered cell types can be utilized in concert to provide a high degree of tissue developmental control without the use of exogenous growth factors.

Stem cell therapies have shown promise for regenerative treatment for musculoskeletal conditions, but their success is mixed. To enhance regenerative effects, growth factors are utilized to induce differentiation into native cell types, but uncontrollable in vivo conditions inhibit differentiation, and precise control of expressed matrix proteins is difficult to achieve. To address these issues, we investigated a novel method of enhancing regenerative phenotype through direct upregulation of major cartilaginous tissue proteins, aggrecan (ACAN), and collagen II (COL2A1) using dCas9-VPR CRISPR gene activation systems. We demonstrated increased expression and deposition of targeted proteins independent of exogenous growth factors in pellet culture. Singular upregulation of COL2A1/ACAN interestingly indicates that COL2A1 upregulation mediates the highest sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) deposition, in addition to collagen II deposition. Through RNA-seq analysis, this was shown to occur by COL2A1 upregulation mediating broader chondrogenic gene expression changes. Multiplex upregulation of COL2A1 and ACAN together resulted in the highest sGAG, and collagen II deposition, with levels comparable to those in chondrogenic growth factor-differentiated pellets. Overall, this work indicates dCas9-VPR systems can robustly upregulate COL2A1 and ACAN deposition without growth factors, to provide a novel, precise method of controlling stem cell phenotype for cartilage and intervertebral disc cell therapies and tissue engineering. IMPACT STATEMENT: Stem cell therapies have come about as a potential regenerative treatment for musculoskeletal disease, but clinically, they have mixed results. To improve stem cell therapies, growth factors are used to aid a regenerative cell phenotype, but their effects are inhibited by in vivo musculoskeletal disease environments. This article describes CRISPR gene activation-based cell engineering methods that provide a growth factor-free method of inducing chondrogenic extracellular matrix deposition. This method is demonstrated to be as/more potent as growth factors in inducing a chondrogenic phenotype in pellet culture, indicating potential utility as a method of enhancing stem cell therapies for musculoskeletal disease.

The aim of the study was to assess the contemporary presentation and management of subglottic cysts and make recommendations on the treatment of these patients. Retrospective case series of 105 patients between October 1999 and November 2017 from a paediatric teaching hospital. Ninety-one percentage (n = 96) had a history of prematurity, with a mean gestation of 27.2 weeks (SD ± 4.1). A history of intubation was found in 99% (n = 104) of cases [median 18 days (range = 1–176)]. Presenting symptoms were: Stridor 57.1%, (n = 60), difficult intubation 14% (n = 15), recurrent croup 11.4% (n = 12), failed extubation 7.6%, (n = 8), hoarseness/weak cry 10.5% (n = 10). Ninety percentage (n = 94) underwent intervention for management of SGCs with 86% (n = 81) treated with cold steel marsupialisation and 14% (n = 13) with CO 2 laser. Recurrent cysts occurred in 56% (n = 53) of cases. Treatment modality did not affect recurrence (p = 0.594 Δ). Sixty-six percentage (n = 69/105) of patients had one or more concurrent airway pathology at MLB. Most frequent was subglottic stenosis 47% (n = 49), with 16% (n = 8) subsequently requiring open reconstructive airway surgery. Mean duration of follow-up was 47.6 months (SD ± 38.3). SGC are an uncommon, reversible cause of upper airway obstruction and should be considered in the list of differential diagnoses in patients with a history of prematurity and perinatal intubation, presenting with stridor. While concurrent SGS is common, adequate symptom improvement in such cases may be achieved with SGC removal alone. Management is by surgical marsupialisation. Recurrence and additional airway pathologies are common and may necessitate longer-term treatment in centres with paediatric airway expertise.

Low back pain is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. The degenerative intervertebral disc (IVD) environment contains pathologically high levels of inflammatory cytokines and acidic pH hypothesized to contribute to back pain by sensitizing nociceptive neurons to stimuli that would not be painful in healthy patients. We hypothesized that the degenerative IVD environment drives discogenic pain by sensitizing nociceptive neurons to mechanical loading. To test this hypothesis, we developed an in vitro model that facilitated the investigation of interactions between the degenerative IVD environment, nociceptive neurons innervating the IVD and mechanical loading of the disc; and, the identification of the underlying mechanism of degenerative IVD induced nociceptive neuron sensitization. In our model, rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons were seeding onto bovine annulus fibrosus tissue, exposed to degenerative IVD conditioned media and/or acidic pH, and subjected to cyclic tensile strain (1 Hz; 1%-6% strain) during measurement of DRG sensory neuron activity via calcium imaging. Using this model, we demonstrated that both degenerative IVD conditioned media and degenerative IVD acidic pH levels induced elevated nociceptive neuron activation in response to physiologic levels of mechanical strain. In addition, interleukin 6 (IL-6) was demonstrated to mediate degenerative IVD conditioned media induced elevated nociceptive neuron activation. These results demonstrate IL-6 mediates degenerative IVD induced neuron sensitization to mechanical loading and further establishes IL-6 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of discogenic pain. Data further suggests the degenerative IVD environment contains multiple neuron sensitization pathways (IL-6, pH) that may contribute to discogenic pain.

Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and contributes to significant socioeconomic impacts. It has been hypothesized that the degenerative intervertebral disc (IVD) contributes to back pain by sensitizing nociceptive neurons innervating the IVD to stimuli that would not be painful to healthy patients. However, the inflammatory signaling networks mediating this sensitization remain poorly understood. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of degenerative IVD-induced changes in nociception is required to improve the understanding and treatment of back pain. Toward these ends, a novel in vitro model was developed to investigate degenerative IVD-induced changes in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron activation by measuring DRG neuron activity following neuron seeding on human degenerative IVD tissue collected from patients undergoing surgical treatment for back pain. Lentiviral clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR) epigenome editing vectors were built to downregulate the inflammatory receptors TNFR1, IL1R1, and IL6st in DRG neurons in single- and multiplex. Multiplex CRISPR epigenome editing of inflammatory receptors demonstrated that degenerative IVD tissue drives thermal sensitization through the simultaneous and redundant signaling of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-1β. This work elucidates redundant signaling pathways in neuron interactions with the degenerative IVD and suggests the need for multiplex targeting of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β for pain modulation in the degenerative IVD.

Negative interactions between people and large carnivores are common and will probably increase as the human population and livestock production continue to expand. Livestock predation by wild carnivores can significantly affect the livelihoods of farmers, resulting in retaliatory killings and subsequent conflicts between local communities and conservationists. A better understanding of livestock predation patterns could help guide measures to improve both human relationships and coexistence with carnivores. Environmental variables can influence the intensity of livestock predation, are relatively easy to monitor, and could potentially provide a useful predictive framework for targeting mitigation. We chose lion predation of livestock as a model to test whether variations in environmental conditions trigger changes in predation. Analysing 6 years of incident reports for Pandamatenga village in Botswana, an area of high human–lion conflict, we used generalized linear models to show that significantly more attacks coincided with lower moonlight levels and temperatures, and attack severity increased significantly with extreme minimum temperatures. Furthermore, we found a delayed effect of rainfall: lower rainfall was followed by a significantly increased severity of attacks in the following month. Our results suggest that preventative measures, such as introducing deterrents or changing livestock management, could be implemented adaptively based on environmental conditions. This could be a starting point for investigating similar effects in other large carnivores, to reduce livestock attacks and work towards wider human–wildlife coexistence.

The aim of the study was to assess the contemporary presentation and management of subglottic cysts and make recommendations on the treatment of these patients.Retrospective case series of 105 patients between October 1999 and November 2017 from a paediatric teaching hospital.Ninety-one percentage (n = 96) had a history of prematurity, with a mean gestation of 27.2 weeks (SD ± 4.1). A history of intubation was found in 99% (n = 104) of cases [median 18 days (range = 1-176)]. Presenting symptoms were: Stridor 57.1%, (n = 60), difficult intubation 14% (n = 15), recurrent croup 11.4% (n = 12), failed extubation 7.6%, (n = 8), hoarseness/weak cry 10.5% (n = 10). Ninety percentage (n = 94) underwent intervention for management of SGCs with 86% (n = 81) treated with cold steel marsupialisation and 14% (n = 13) with CO SGC are an uncommon, reversible cause of upper airway obstruction and should be considered in the list of differential diagnoses in patients with a history of prematurity and perinatal intubation, presenting with stridor. While concurrent SGS is common, adequate symptom improvement in such cases may be achieved with SGC removal alone. Management is by surgical marsupialisation. Recurrence and additional airway pathologies are common and may necessitate longer-term treatment in centres with paediatric airway expertise.

Objective To describe video-assisted microwave ablation (VAMA) for the treatment of a metastatic lung lesion secondary to right forelimb osteosarcoma in a dog. Study design Case report. Animals A 10-year-old female spayed mixed breed dog with a metastatic lung lesion secondary to appendicular osteosarcoma. Methods An osteosarcoma of the right distal scapula and proximal humerus that was suspected to be a radiation-induced osteosarcoma was treated with limb amputation and carboplatin chemotherapy. The patient developed pulmonary metastatic lesions and hypertrophic osteopathy (HO). VAMA of a metastatic lesion in the right caudal lung lobe was performed 227 days after amputation. The procedure was performed without complication. Results Follow-up information with the referring veterinarian 40 days after VAMA indicated that the patient was stable and that the clinical signs of HO had resolved. Thoracic radiographs taken by the referring veterinarian (RDVM) at monthly intervals showed that the previously treated metastatic lesion was stable. At 134 days from VAMA, the patient presented to the RDVM for lethargy and dyspnea and was transferred to an emergency clinic. The patient arrested and died 136 days from the VAMA procedure while hospitalized. A postmortem was not performed. Conclusion VAMA for pulmonary metastatic lesions is technically feasible and allows for the treatment of symptoms associated with HO and minimally invasive management of pulmonary metastases in the case reported.

The intervertebral disc contributes to motion, weight bearing, and flexibility of the spine, but is susceptible to damage and morphological changes that contribute to pathology with age and injury. Engineering strategies that rely upon synthetic materials or composite implants that do not interface with the biological components of the disc have not met with widespread use or desirable outcomes in the treatment of intervertebral disc pathology. Here we review bioengineering advances to treat disc disorders, using cell-supplemented materials, or acellular, biologically based materials, that provide opportunity for cell-material interactions and remodeling in the treatment of intervertebral disc disorders. While a field still in early development, bioengineering-based strategies employing novel biomaterials are emerging as promising alternatives for clinical treatment of intervertebral disc disorders.

Cell therapies are an up and coming technology in orthopedic medicine that has the potential to provide regenerative treatments for musculoskeletal disease. Despite numerous cell therapies showing preclinical success for common musculoskeletal indications of disc degeneration and osteoarthritis, there have been mixed results when testing these therapies in humans during clinical trials. A theory behind the mixed success of these cell therapies is that the harsh microenvironments of the disc and knee they are entering inhibit their anabolism and survival. Therefore, there is much ongoing research looking into how to improve the survival and anabolism of cell therapies within these musculoskeletal disease environments. This includes research into improving cell function under specific microenvironmental conditions known to exist in the intervertebral disc (IVD) and knee environment such as hypoxia, low-nutrient conditions, hyperosmolarity, acidity, and inflammation. This research also includes improving differentiation of cells into desired native cell phenotypes to better enhance their survival and anabolism in the knee and IVD. This review highlights the effects of specific musculoskeletal microenvironmental challenges on cell therapies and what research is being done to overcome these challenges. Impact statement While there has been significant clinical interest in using cell therapies for musculoskeletal pathologies in the knee and intervertebral disc, cell therapy clinical trials have had mixed outcomes. The information presented in this review includes the environmental challenges (i.e., acidic pH, inflammation, hyperosmolarity, hypoxia, and low nutrition) that cell therapies experience in these pathological musculoskeletal environments. This review summarizes studies that describe various approaches to improving the therapeutic capability of cell therapies in these harsh environments. The result is an overview of what approaches can be targeted and/or combined to develop a more consistent cell therapy for musculoskeletal pathologies.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a primary contributor to low-back pain, a leading cause of disability. Progression of DDD is aided by inflammatory cytokines in the intervertebral disc (IVD), particularly TNF-α and IL-1β, but current treatments fail to effectively target this mechanism. The objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) epigenome editing-based therapy for DDD, by modulation of TNFR1/IL1R1 signaling in pathological human IVD cells. Human IVD cells from the nucleus pulposus of patients receiving surgery for back pain were obtained and the regulation of TNFR1/IL1R1 signaling by a lentiviral CRISPR epigenome editing system was tested. These cells were tested for successful lentiviral transduction/expression of deactivated Cas9 fused to Kruppel Associated Box system and regulation of TNFR1/IL1R1 expression. TNFR1/IL1R1 signaling disruption was investigated through measurement of NF-κB activity, apoptosis, and anabolic/catabolic changes in gene expression postinflammatory challenge. CRISPR epigenome editing systems were effectively introduced into pathological human IVD cells and significantly downregulated TNFR1 and IL1R1. This downregulation significantly attenuated deleterious TNFR1 signaling but not IL1R1 signaling. This is attributed to less robust IL1R1 expression downregulation, and IL-1β-driven reversal of IL1R1 expression downregulation in a portion of patient IVD cells. In addition, RNAseq data indicated novel transcription factor targets, IRF1 and TFAP2C, as being primary regulators of inflammatory signaling in IVD cells. These results demonstrate the feasibility of CRISPR epigenome editing of inflammatory receptors in pathological IVD cells, but highlight a limitation in epigenome targeting of IL1R1. This method has potential application as a novel gene therapy for DDD, to attenuate the deleterious effect of inflammatory cytokines present in the degenerative IVD.

Background The incidence of premature infants with complex medical needs, dependent upon medical technology at discharge, is on the rise in the United States. Purpose Preparing the family for the hospital-to-home transition can be challenging due to the complex medical and emotional needs of the vulnerable infant and the volume of subspecialty services and equipment required. Methods/search strategy Relevant articles from PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHLFINDINGS/RESULTS:: There is an increasing incidence of technology dependent infants discharged from neonatal intensive care units in the United States. Transition from hospital to home requires lengthy preparation, multidisciplinary-open communication, and family centered care. Implications for practice Early assimilation of the parents into the ongoing care of their infant, the provision of comprehendible parental education by neonatal nurses and other members of the healthcare team, the provision of adequate rooming-in experiences prior to discharge, and the collaborative coordination of outpatient community services are crucial elements of the discharge process. Neonatal nurses possess population-specific education, training, commitment, and expertise that make them the ideal experts to implement and evaluate a discharge planning framework, in collaboration with the medical team and the family. Implications for research Methods to prevent readmission and ensure successful discharge from hospital to home is indicated. Standardization of a discharge process of infants of technology dependence combining medical team, family, outpatient coordinators, and primary care providers.

In 2011 the Council on Social Work Education Religion and Spirituality Work Group was organized “to promote social workers’ knowledge, values, and skills for ethical and effective practice that takes into account the diverse expressions of religion and spirituality among clients and their communities.” In this article we discuss how the mission, charters, and goals of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) addressed the domains of religion and spirituality from their inception. More specifically, the focus of this discussion is the epistemology of spirituality and religion at HBCUs from historical and contemporary perspectives. Content on the exploration of the related themes, religion and spirituality, as manifested in the curriculum, cultural milieu, and social environment of HBCUs will be described. Additionally, we document the role and influence of the African American community, church, and political insurgency. These forces, coupled with the inability or unwillingness of estab...

Musculoskeletal tissues contain critical gradients in extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and cell types that allow for proper mechanical function of tissues and integration between adjacent tissues. However, properly controlling these patterns in engineered tissues is difficult and tissue engineering (TE) is presently in need of methods to generate integration zones for tissue anchoring, transition zones between tissues, and controlled ECM gradients for proper mechanical function. In this study, we present a novel method of using a microfluidic flow cell array (MFCA) to precisely control cell deposition onto TE constructs to produce tunable cell patterns on engineered constructs. In this study, we characterized MFCA cell deposition to efficiently and reliably deposit cells in controllable patterns and densities. We developed methods for deposition of human adipose-derived stem cells and human osteoblasts using a 12-channel pilot printhead. We mimicked key gradients and transitions by creating two-cell and three-cell-type transitions characteristic of the integration zones of musculoskeletal tissues. Overall, we demonstrate the ability to precisely and reproducibly control cell deposition on engineered constructs using this method and control cell population gradients. We establish the production of multicell transitions and multicell interfaces utilizing MFCA cell deposition, to demonstrate the potential of the method to create an extensive variety of engineered musculoskeletal tissues. Furthermore, customization of the printhead design can accommodate various structures, sizes, shapes, and number of flow cell channels to meet specific requirements for a broad range of musculoskeletal tissues.

Faculties at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) have demonstrated stellar contributions to social work, which include early thought and epistemology related to strengths, empowerment, and social justice perspectives; religious orientation; inclusive learning environment, and community-based research. W. E. B. DuBois was the most influential among these HBCU scholars; however, the DuBoisian tradition of scholar as activist must include works of Frazier, Haynes, Young, and others, who fueled discourse on contemporary social problems despite prejudice, discrimination, and Jim Crow. HBCUs provided direction for services to the new Black urban class when the profession was not prepared to do so. They led the profession to use new theoretical ideas, perspectives, and service modes for a new clientele.

Background Methods for the detection of the temporal and spatial generation of painful symptoms are needed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of painful neuropathies and to aid preclinical screening of molecular therapeutics. Methods In this study, we utilized in vivo luminescent imaging of NF-κB activity and serum cytokine measures to investigate relationships between the NF-κB regulatory network and the presentation of painful symptoms in a model of neuropathy. Results The chronic constriction injury model led to temporal increases in NF-κB activity that were strongly and non-linearly correlated with the presentation of pain sensitivities (i.e. mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia). The delivery of NEMO-binding domain peptide reduced pain sensitivities through the inhibition of NF-κB activity in a manner consistent with the demonstrated non-linear relationship. Importantly, the combination of non-invasive measures of NF-κB activity and NF-κB-regulated serum cytokines produced a highly predictive model of both mechanical (R2 = 0.86) and thermal (R2 = 0.76) pain centred on the NF-κB regulatory network (NF-κB, IL-6, CXCL1). Conclusions Using in vivo luminescent imaging of NF-κB activity and serum cytokine measures, this work establishes NF-κB and NF-κB-regulated cytokines as novel multivariate biomarkers of pain-related sensitivity in this model of neuropathy that may be useful for the rapid screening of novel molecular therapeutics.

We developed a new method to manufacture dense, aligned, and porous collagen scaffolds using biaxial plastic compression of type I collagen gels. Using a novel compression apparatus that constricts like an iris diaphragm, low density collagen gels were compressed to yield a permanently densified, highly aligned collagen material. Micro-porosity scaffolds were created using hydrophilic elastomer porogens that can be selectively removed following biaxial compression, with porosity modulated by using different porogen concentrations. The resulting scaffolds exhibit collagen densities that are similar to native connective tissues (∼10% collagen by weight), pronounced collagen alignment across multiple length scales, and an interconnected network of pores, making them highly relevant for use in tissue culture, the study of physiologically relevant cell-matrix interactions, and tissue engineering applications. The scaffolds exhibited highly anisotropic material behavior, with the modulus of the scaffolds in the fiber direction over 100 times greater than the modulus in the transverse direction. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were seeded onto the biaxially compressed scaffolds with minimal cell death over seven days of culture, along with cell proliferation and migration into the pore spaces. This fabrication method provides new capabilities to manufacture structurally and mechanically relevant cytocompatible scaffolds that will enable more physiologically relevant cell culture studies. Further improvement of manufacturing techniques has the potential to produce engineered scaffolds for direct replacement of dense connective tissues such as meniscus and annulus fibrosus. Statement of Significance In vitro studies of cell-matrix interactions and the engineering of replacement materials for collagenous connective tissues require biocompatible scaffolds that replicate the high collagen density (15–25%/wt), aligned fibrillar organization, and anisotropic mechanical properties of native tissues. However, methods for creating scaffolds with these characteristics are currently lacking. We developed a new apparatus and method to create high density, aligned, and porous collagen scaffolds using a biaxial compression with porogens technique. These scaffolds have a highly directional structure and mechanical properties, with the tensile strength and modulus up to 100 times greater in the direction of alignment. We also demonstrated that the scaffolds are a suitable material for cell culture, promoting cell adhesion, viability, and an aligned cell morphology comparable to the cell morphology observed in native aligned tissues.

Back pain is the leading cause of disability globally and the second most common cause of doctors’ visits. Despite extensive research efforts, the underlying mechanism of back pain has not been fully elucidated. The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a viscoelastic tissue that provides flexibility to the spinal column and acts as a shock absorber in the spine. When viscoelastic materials like the IVD are cyclically loaded, they dissipate energy as heat. Thus, diurnal, regular movements of the vertebral column that deform the IVD could increase disc temperature through viscoelastic heating. This temperature rise has the potential to influence cell function, drive cell death and induce nociception in innervating nociceptive neurons within the IVD. The present study was conducted to investigate the capacity of IVD to increase in temperature due to viscoelastic heating. Insulated caudal bovine IVD were subjected to physiological cyclic uniaxial compression over a range of frequencies (0.1‐15 Hz) and loading durations (1‐10 min) ex vivo, and the temperature rise in the tissue was recorded. According to our findings, the IVD can experience a temperature rise of up to 2.5°C under cyclic loading. Furthermore, under similar conditions, the inner nucleus pulposus exhibits more viscoelastic heating than the outer annulus fibrosis, likely due to its more viscous composition. The measured temperature rise of the disc has physiological relevance as degenerative IVD tissue has been shown to produce a sensitization of nociceptive neurons that spontaneously fire at 37°C, with a T50 response at 37.3°C and a maximum response at 38°C. Our results suggest that viscoelastic heating of IVD could interact with sensitized nociceptive neurons in the degenerative IVD to play a role in back pain.

Musculoskeletal diseases have been associated with inflammatory cytokine action, particularly action by TNF-α and IL-1β. These inflammatory cytokines promote apoptosis and senescence of cells in diseased tissue and extracellular matrix breakdown. Stem cell-based therapies are being considered for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, but the presence of these inflammatory cytokines will have similar deleterious action on therapeutic cells delivered to these environments. Methods that prevent inflammatory-induced apoptosis and proinflammatory signaling, in cell and pathway-specific manners are needed. In this study we demonstrate the use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based epigenome editing to alter cell response to inflammatory environments by repressing inflammatory cytokine cell receptors, specifically TNFR1 and IL1R1. We targeted CRISPR/Cas9-based repressors to TNFR1 and IL1R1 gene regulatory elements in human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) and investigated the functional outcomes of repression of these genes. Efficient signaling regulation was demonstrated in engineered hADSCs, as activity of the downstream transcription factor NF-κB was significantly reduced or maintained at baseline levels in the presence of TNF-α or IL-1β. Pellet culture of undifferentiated hADSCs demonstrated improved survival in engineered hADSCs treated with TNF-α or IL-1β, while having little effect on their immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, engineered hADSCs demonstrated improved chondrogenic differentiation capacity in the presence of TNF-α or IL-1β, as shown by superior production of glycosaminglycans in this inflammatory environment. Overall this work demonstrates a novel method for modulating cell response to inflammatory signaling that has applications in engineering cells delivered to inflammatory environments, and as a direct gene therapy to protect endogenous cells exposed to chronic inflammation, as observed in a broad spectrum of degenerative musculoskeletal pathology.

Back pain is a major contributor to disability and has significant socioeconomic impacts worldwide. The degenerative intervertebral disc (IVD) has been hypothesized to contribute to back pain, but a better understanding of the interactions between the degenerative IVD and nociceptive neurons innervating the disc and treatment strategies that directly target these interactions is needed to improve our understanding and treatment of back pain. We investigated degenerative IVD-induced changes to dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron activity and utilized CRISPR epigenome editing as a neuromodulation strategy. By exposing DRG neurons to degenerative IVD-conditioned media under both normal and pathological IVD pH levels, we demonstrate that degenerative IVDs trigger interleukin (IL)-6-induced increases in neuron activity to thermal stimuli, which is directly mediated by AKAP and enhanced by acidic pH. Utilizing this novel information on AKAP-mediated increases in nociceptive neuron activity, we developed lentiviral CRISPR epigenome editing vectors that modulate endogenous expression of AKAP150 by targeted promoter histone methylation. When delivered to DRG neurons, these epigenome-modifying vectors abolished degenerative IVD-induced DRG-elevated neuron activity while preserving non-pathologic neuron activity. This work elucidates the potential for CRISPR epigenome editing as a targeted gene-based pain neuromodulation strategy.

Hypoxic injury to the developing human brain is a complication of premature birth and is associated with long-term impairments of motor function. Disruptions of axon and synaptic connectivity have been linked to developmental hypoxia, but the fundamental mechanisms impacting motor function from altered connectivity are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of hypoxia on locomotor development in zebrafish. We found that developmental hypoxia resulted in decreased spontaneous swimming behavior in larva, and that this motor impairment persisted into adulthood. In evaluation of the diencephalic dopaminergic neurons, which regulate early development of locomotion and constitute an evolutionarily conserved component of the vertebrate dopaminergic system, hypoxia caused a decrease in the number of synapses from the descending dopaminergic diencephalospinal tract (DDT) to spinal cord motor neurons. Moreover, dopamine signaling from the DDT was coupled jointly to motor neuron synaptogenesis and to locomotor development. Together, these results demonstrate the developmental processes regulating early locomotor development and a requirement for dopaminergic projections and motor neuron synaptogenesis. Our findings suggest new insights for understanding the mechanisms leading to motor disability from hypoxic injury of prematurity.

Local control is a major challenge in treating canine nasal tumours. Surgical cytoreduction prior to radiation therapy has not been shown to offer a survival advantage. Only one study has previously evaluated the outcome when surgery is performed after radiation, which demonstrated an improved survival time compared with radiation alone. The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcome of surgery after definitive radiation on survival times in dogs with sinonasal tumours. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for dogs with nasal tumours that received definitive radiation followed by surgery. Information obtained from medical record review included signalment, diagnosis, treatment and outcome. The median survival time was 457 days. No long-term side effects were observed. These findings suggest that exenteration of the nasal cavity following definitive radiation for treatment of dogs with nasal tumours is well-tolerated and provides a similar survival duration to previous reports of radiation alone.

Object Tissue-engineered intervertebral discs (TE-IVDs) represent a new experimental approach for the treatment of degenerative disc disease. Compared with mechanical implants, TE-IVDs may better mimic the properties of native discs. The authors conducted a study to evaluate the outcome of TE-IVDs implanted into the rat-tail spine using radiological parameters and histology. Methods Tissue-engineered intervertebral discs consist of a distinct nucleus pulposus (NP) and anulus fibrosus (AF) that are engineered in vitro from sheep IVD chondrocytes. In 10 athymic rats a discectomy in the caudal spine was performed. The discs were replaced with TE-IVDs. Animals were kept alive for 8 months and were killed for histological evaluation. At 1, 5, and 8 months, MR images were obtained; T1-weighted sequences were used for disc height measurements, and T2-weighted sequences were used for morphological analysis. Quantitative T2 relaxation time analysis was used to assess the water content and T1ρ-relaxation time to assess the proteoglycan content of TE-IVDs. Results Disc height of the transplanted segments remained constant between 68% and 74% of healthy discs. Examination of TE-IVDs on MR images revealed morphology similar to that of native discs. T2-relaxation time did not differ between implanted and healthy discs, indicating similar water content of the NP tissue. The size of the NP decreased in TE-IVDs. Proteoglycan content in the NP was lower than it was in control discs. Ossification of the implanted segment was not observed. Histological examination revealed an AF consisting of an organized parallel-aligned fiber structure. The NP matrix appeared amorphous and contained cells that resembled chondrocytes. Conclusions The TE-IVDs remained viable over 8 months in vivo and maintained a structure similar to that of native discs. Tissue-engineered intervertebral discs should be explored further as an option for the potential treatment of degenerative disc disease.

Objective To investigate the relationship between NF-κB activity, cytokine levels, and pain sensitivities in a rodent model of osteoarthritis (OA).

Cell delivery to the pathological intervertebral disc (IVD) has significant therapeutic potential for enhancing IVD regeneration. The development of injectable biomaterials that retain delivered cells, promote cell survival, and maintain or promote an NP cell phenotype in vivo remains a significant challenge. Previous studies have demonstrated NP cell – laminin interactions in the nucleus pulposus (NP) region of the IVD that promote cell attachment and biosynthesis. These findings suggest that incorporating laminin ligands into carriers for cell delivery may be beneficial for promoting NP cell survival and phenotype. Here, an injectable, laminin-111 functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-LM111) hydrogel was developed as a biomaterial carrier for cell delivery to the IVD. We evaluated the mechanical properties of the PEG-LM111 hydrogel, and its ability to retain delivered cells in the IVD space. Gelation occurred in approximately 20 minutes without an initiator, with dynamic shear moduli in the range of 0.9 – 1.4 kPa. Primary NP cell retention in cultured IVD explants was significantly higher over 14 days when cells were delivered within a PEG-LM111 carrier, as compared to cells in liquid suspension. Together, these results suggest this injectable laminin-functionalized biomaterial may be an easy to use carrier for delivering cells to the IVD.

Genome and epigenome editing have emerged as convenient and effective tools for scientific research in a broad spectrum of fields. Recent advances in genome and epigenome editing tools have made these systems more accessible, more efficient, and precise. In this chapter, we will describe the mechanisms of the primary genome and epigenome editing strategies and explore their mechanisms of action, with a focus on ZFN, TALEN, CRISPR/Cas9, and CRISPR/dCas9 systems, and highlight their application to therapeutic development and biomaterials research.

The current tools available to physicians for the treatment of back pain are relatively limited, palliative in nature, and often lead to deleterious side effects. As a result, much research is occurring in the biomaterials realm to create new treatments that not only relieve pain, but restore function to the spine and circumvent the unwanted side effects. Both traditional metal/polyethylene hardware approaches, often associated with joint replacements, and more novel regenerative medicine approaches are being investigated. It is currently unclear which procedures and materials will be best suited for the treatment of back pain, but a wide range of materials are being investigated. This chapter reviews the current state of biomaterial-based treatment of intervertebral disc-originated back pain. Topics cover established treatments such as spinal fusion and total disc replacement, as well as novel regenerative treatments such as nucleus pulposus replacement, annulus fibrosus repair, and tissue-engineered total disc replacement.

Objective Osteoarthritis (OA) is a consequence of not only mechanical events such as joint instability, but also biological events that result in the upregulation of proinflammatory and catabolic mediators. The intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate (MIA) has been widely used to induce OA. NF-κB activity has been linked to increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, etc), metalloproteinases (MMPs), chemokines and inducible enzymes, which all contribute to cartilage degradation and subsequent OA. The goal of this study was to use in vivo imaging (IVIS) of NF-κB activation to track longitudinal changes due to inflammation in a rodent model of OA. Design Twenty-four (24) NF-κB-luc reporter transgenic mice [BALB/C-Tg (NF-κB-RE-luc)-Xen, age 7-8 weeks] were given intra-articular knee injections with either MIA (n = 12) or normal saline (n = 12) to serve as a control. IVIS and ex vivo imaging of NF-κB and tactile allodynia measurements were performed, and correlations were recorded preoperatively and on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Animals were euthanized on days 3 and 28 for ex vivo imaging, and tissues were stored for future immunohistochemical evaluation. Results NF-κB activity was significantly elevated in the MIA group on days 1 and 3 (p < 0.05) when compared to preoperative levels and was significantly elevated compared to the normal saline group on day 3 (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in tactile allodynia in the MIA group compared to preoperative levels, as well as compared to the normal saline group at all time points (p < 0.05). In vivo NF-κB luminescence correlated with tactile allodynia (p < 0.0001) and with ex vivo imaging (p < 0.0001). Conclusion This study validates the use of IVIS imaging of NF-κB activity in a MIA rodent model of arthritis and provides evidence for the use of NF-κB luminescence imaging as an imaging biomarker of pain sensitivities. This can be utilized in the future to further elucidate NF-κB's role in inflammation and OA. In addition, it can help evaluate potential therapeutic agents that target NF-κB. Mata BA, Bowles R, Mwangi TK, Setton LA. Impaired Function and in vivo Imaging of NF-κB Activation in a Mouse Model of Knee Joint Inflammation. The Duke Orthop J 2013;3(1):41-47.

Because of cost and time, it is difficult to relate to students how fundamental chemical principles are involved in cutting edge biomedical breakthroughs being reported in the national media. The laboratory exercise presented here is aimed at high school chemistry students and uses alginate hydrogels, a common material used in tissue engineering, to help students explore the relationship between chemical bonding and material properties while relating it to the field of tissue engineering. In addition, this lab is designed as a model based inquiry exercise to provide a better understanding of how contemporary science is practiced. The lab is intended to be used as part of a four day curriculum on tissue engineering but can be done together with the supporting curriculum or separately. The exercise is inexpensive, approximately $6.00 per student group and can be performed in low-resource laboratories, as it requires no elaborate equipment. The students who completed these exercises showed enhanced understanding of ionic bonding and were able to describe how such bonding related to the properties of materials.

Lower back and neck pain are leading physical conditions for which patients see their doctors in the United States. The organ commonly implicated in this condition is the intervertebral disc (IVD), which frequently herniates, ruptures, or tears, often causing pain and limiting spinal mobility. To date, approaches for replacement of diseased IVD have been confined to purely mechanical devices designed to either eliminate or enable flexibility of the diseased motion segment. Here we present the evaluation of a living, tissue-engineered IVD composed of a gelatinous nucleus pulposus surrounded by an aligned collagenous annulus fibrosus in the caudal spine of athymic rats for up to 6 mo. When implanted into the rat caudal spine, tissue-engineered IVD maintained disc space height, produced de novo extracellular matrix, and integrated into the spine, yielding an intact motion segment with dynamic mechanical properties similar to that of native IVD. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of engineering a functional spinal motion segment and represent a critical step in developing biological therapies for degenerative disc disease.

Nonbiological total disc replacement is currently being used for the treatment of intervertebral disc (IVD) disease and injury, but these implants are prone to mechanical wear, tear and possible dislodgement. Recently, tissue-engineered total disc replacement (TE-TDR) has been investigated as a possible alternative to more fully replicate the native IVD properties. However, the performance of TE-TDRs has not been studied in the native disc space. In this study, MRI and microcomputed tomography imaging of the rat spine were used to design a collagen (annulus fibrosus)/alginate (nucleus pulposus) TE-TDR to a high degree of geometric accuracy, with less than 10% difference between TE-TDR and the native disc dimensions. Image-based TE-TDR implants were then inserted into the L4/L5 disc space of athymic rats (n = 5) and maintained for 16 weeks. The disc space was fully or partially maintained in three of five animals and proteoglycan and collagen histology staining was similar in composition to the native disc. In addition, good integration was observed between TE-TDR and the vertebral bodies, as well as remnant native IVD tissue. Overall, this study provides evidence that TE-TDR strategies may yield a clinically viable treatment for diseased or injured IVD.